Premiere Date: June 19, 2007
Synopsis
How do you measure the distance from an African village to an American city? What does it mean to be a refugee in today's "global village"? Rain in a Dry Land provides eye-opening answers as it chronicles the fortunes of two Somali Bantu families, transported by relief agencies from years of civil war and refugee life to Springfield, Massachusetts and Atlanta, Georgia. As the newcomers confront racism, poverty and 21st-century culture shock, the film captures their efforts to survive in America and create a safe haven for their war-torn families. Their poetry, humor and amazing resilience show us our own world through new eyes. A co-production with the Independent Television Service (ITVS).
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Filmmaker
[T]he film doesn't sugarcoat their story; it shows them in their amazing beauty and poetry and resilience, but it also shows them in really down times.”
— Anne Makepeace, Filmmaker
View the Film
Film Update
June 5, 2007
Explore the Topic
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Critical Acclaim
The particular strength of this film is in its intimacy, its insistence on portraying immigrants as complicated, high-strung people negotiating the personal boundaries between their traditions and western modernity.”
— Stephen Holden
The New York Times
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Reviews & Reactions
Average Review
| based on 5 reviews
Thanks for showing this movie, it was a heart warming movie and it gave me alot of hope and motivation. I my self I am from Somalia, I was very lucky that I didn't face war directly.
I found all the people in this movie very strong, positiv and real...... thanks you all for this film
your sister
afra
by Afra
July 19, 2009, 9:07 PM
LOVED THIS DOCUMENTARY
This showed the amount of good that America is providing for refugees but more importantly it also showed the lack of continuous support and resources. If you are going to help it should be done in its entirety.
by Petruvna
July 19, 2009, 9:09 PM
teacher/educator
i want to see the whole film. the film-maker states that the so-called Bantu somalis were denied education in somalia. when there was not a WAR, this was not true. i was a peace corps teacher in mogadishu and had kids from these groups in my classes in middle school. the ethnic groups are more integrated into society than the current U.S. tribal-based immigration policy would make one believe.
by virginia jama
July 20, 2009, 3:09 PM
teacher/educator
i want to see the whole film. the film-maker states that the so-called Bantu somalis were denied education in somalia. when there was not a WAR, this was not true. i was a peace corps teacher in mogadishu and had kids from these groups in my classes in middle school. the ethnic groups are more integrated into society than the current U.S. tribal-based immigration policy would make one believe.
by virginia jama
July 20, 2009, 3:09 PM
THIS IS NOT A TRUE STORY
I COULND BLEIVE WHEN I READ THE SCRIPTION OF THE MOVE,
THERE WAS NO ANY DISCRIMINATION IN SOMALI WHAT SO EVER. I COME FROM MINORITY GROUP SO CALLED GALADI AND WE NEVER HAD ANY DISCRIMINATION AT ALL. IF SOME ONE WANTS TO COME UNITED STATES THEY CN CLAIMED THEY HAVE BEEN DISCRIMINATED BY OTHER SOMALIANS IN ONDER TO GET TO STATE OR CANADA, OR ANY OTHER WESTERN COUTRYS. THIS IS BASE LESS STORY AND YOU CAN ASK ANY SOMALIANS. THANKYOU.
by omar from edmonton, alberta
November 16, 2009, 6:05 AM